Scythe snath web



Nov. 1, 1938. BIRGE v 2,135,273

SCYTHE SNATH WEB Filed March 22, 193'? {y rs I Patented Nov. 1, 1938 SCYTHE SNATH WEB Ernest N. Birge, Seymour, Ind.

mour Manufacturing Application March 22,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for securing a scythe blade to a snath, and one of its objects is to provide a fitting for this purpose adapted to be economically formed of sheet metal. Another object is to provide such a fitting designed for adjustment so that it can be applied to snaths of slightly different dimensions instead of requiring them to be finished to anexact size to receive the fitting. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing: Figure l is a side view of a scythe blade and a 1; portion of the snath to which it is attached.

Figure 2 is a face or plan view of a fitting embodying this invention and a fragment of a snath to which it is applied, the tang of the scythe blade being indicated in broken outline. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 2, with certain details in section,-and

with the tang of the blade in full lines and partly in section.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the parts constituting the fitting itself apart from the snath. The usual scythe blade I is formed with a tang 2, by which it is ordinarily secured by some -orm of clamping means to the end portion of the stick or snath 3 which serves as a handle. To provide for removable securement of the blade so that it may be readily separated from the snath for sharpening, the snath 3 is customarily provided with a metallic fitting which includes the fastening means for holding the tang 2 of the blade. The present invention provides such afitting in the form of stampings of sheet metal, which permits of economical construction and relatively light weight. As shown in the drawing, the snath is preferably made with a sloping flat face 4 in order to set the blade I at a slight angle to the direction of the axis of the snath; thus the end portion of the snath is of tapering thickness, although the surface opposite the flat inclined face 4 is substantially cylindrical and concentric about the main axis of the piece. Embracing this cylindrical surface 5 I provide a 50 web which includes a lower section comprising curved band portions 6 and 1 spaced apart longitudinally, and connected by a bar 8 which may be of curved form transversely so as to fit snugly against the cylindrical surface 5. The bands 6 55 and 1 are formed with apertured lugs 9 and I0,

, assignor to Sey- Company, Inc., Seymour, Ind., a corporation of Delaware 1937, Serial 7 No (Cl. soc-1.3)

respectively, projecting laterally at both sides'of the snath 3.

A second In fiat plate portion curved portions I 2 ember of the fitting consists of a II with laterally adjacent merging into a curved end portion l3 which serves as a clamping ban-d'to fit over the cylindrical portion of the snath 3. Lugs i4 extendfrom the curved portion H at both sides of the snath, and are provided with apertures registering with those of the lugs 9 so that the two p arts may be connected by clamping end of the latter.

It at one side of the area against which Near this .end an upturned lug It serves as a stop the heel of the tang 2 of the blade may rest when the blade is secured in operative" position. This surface H is also provided with a plurality of apertures H in any one of which the down-turned terminal it! of the tang 2 may be engaged, as indicated in Figure 2, for anchoring this portion of the tang.

In order to secure the portion ll permanently in position against the flat surface 4 a' fastening screw l9 may extend through the metallic fitting into the wood of the snath near the end of the latter.

A third part of the fitting consists of a clamp yoke 20 preferably of arched formation, and

formed with a depressed central rib portion 2| This engagement is indicated in Figures 3 and 4, which also show the laterally-projecting, apertured lugs, 22, which are integral portions of the yoke 28 and whose apertures register with thos e of the lugs l0 so that two clampmg bolts 23 may be inserted for drawing the yoke yoke 20 which, if desired, can be made to fully It may also drical form of the snath 3. be understood that if the inclination of the tang 2 with respect to the axis of the "snath itself parallel to said axis.

1 depth of the yoke ,near the end, or split, so that it must be zened for further use; a comparatively amateur job of fittingof the wooden part will suffice if .vide proper, clearance.

snath is not desired, the bearing surface I! may extend substantially parallel to the axis of the snath, overlying a corresponding fiat area of the Su'ch a modificatlon would merely require an increase in the mem r 20 or the location of the lugs III at a plane ,nearer to the fiat tangreceiving surface.

It will be recognized that my web, or fitting,

as described, is one which can be readily and economically manufactured by well-understood stamping processes for forming sheet metal, and that it may be made relatively light in proportion to its strength; it will also be seen that by reason of some flexibility in the sheet metal parts and the range of accommodation provided by forming the lugs 9 and I4 without lugs l and 22, so that they are normally spaced apart, the fitting 'may be secured tightly onto snaths of somewhat different sizes. It will also be usefulfor application to old snaths if the original fittings have broken, or even if the snath itself has broken off mysheet metalweb is applied and adjusted to the woodenpart by means of clamping bolts l and 23. The use of a standard tang 2 may result 'in the projectionof its terminal 18 clear through the thickness of the flat portion H of, the fitting,

but injthat event it is a the snath as indicated at l in Figure '3 to pro- It will be recognized that the employment of the bolts 23 for clamping the simple matter to notch band portion 1 to the snath, and at the same time clamping the scythe tang 2 onto the surface ll, involves an economy of parts, and simplifies.

the structure.

j While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention,

it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and, scopeof the invention, and that the outwardly projecting apertured lugs, a plate member formed to overlie the snath at the side opposite the bands and'including a curved end porshortclined to the axis of having a flat portion end portion and on afiording a flat surface tion terminating in outwardly projecting lugs having apertures disposed to register with the apertures of one of said bands, threaded means adjustably connecting said apertured lugs of the plate member to those of the band for'adjustably clamping the snath between saidparts, said plate member affording a fiat surface for lodgment of the tang of a scythe blade, a yoke dimensioned to.

overlie the plate with such tang interposed, said yoke terminating in outwardly projecting lugs having apertures disposed to register with those of the lugs of the other band, and threaded means adjustably connecting the apertured lugs of the yoke directly to those of said other band for clamping the tang against the plate and gripping the snath.

2. A fitting for fastening a scythe-blade to a 7 snath, comprising a pair of metallic bands each formed to partially encircle the snath in longitudinally spaced relation thereon with an in ftegral tie portion connecting them and curved concentrically with said bands to fit snugly against thecurved surface of the snath, the opposite side of the snath having a fiat surface inthe snath, a plate member flat surface of the snathandincluding a'curved end portion to fit the snath beyond'its flattened surface, means adjustably connecting said curved of the said bands with the,

snath; embraced and'clampedbetween them, said plate member for lodgment of the tang of a scythe blade, a yoke dimensioned to overlie said plate. and a tang lodged thereon, and means adjustably connect ing said yoke directly to the other band for clamping the tangagainst the plate and gripping the snath.

3. A fitting for fastening a scythe blade to a snath comprising a pair of bands each formed to'i partially encircle the snath in longitudinally spaced relation thereon with a tie rigidly connecting them, a plate member formed'to .overlie the snath at the side opposite said bands and including an end portion. disposed adjacent one of the bands, means adjustably, connecting said end portion and said band with the snath'embraced and clampedbetween of a scythe blade, a yoke dimensioned to overlie the plate with such tang interposed, and means connecting said yoke directly to the oth'er of the two bands and adjustable for clampingthe tang against the plate'and gripping the snath betwee said yoke and the connected band. 7

'7 ERNEST N. BIRGE.

formed to fit over said c afiording a flatinclined surface 2 them, said plate member for lodgment of the tang 

